Buchwald Leads Castelli In Race For Campaign Money

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. – In the race for the state Assembly seat in the 93rd Assembly District, Democratic challenger David Buchwald has raised slightly more than $152,000 in campaign contributions compared to the $61,574 garnered by incumbent Republican Robert Castelli (R, C – Goldens Bridge), according to the New York State Board of Elections.

While Buchwald says those figures indicate election momentum has swung in his direction, representatives from Castelli’s staff note that a majority of Buchwald’s contributions come from donors outside the 93rd District. State Board of Elections figures show that of the $152,101 that Buchwald has raised, $93,297 comes from donors outside the district and nearly $46,000 is self-funded.

“Our opponent’s filing illustrates that he has minimal support in the district in his bid for the Assembly,” said Dean Travalino, a spokesperson for the Castelli campaign.

Travalino added that Buchwald “can parse the numbers however he wants, but Buchwald’s filing shows he raised barely $12,000 from individuals who actually live and work in the 93rd Assembly District.”

Buchwald, who also has the endorsements of the Independence and Working Families parties, recently received the backing of former New York Mayor Ed Koch. He said his fundraising numbers are a sign that people are responding to his platform.

"Our campaign has been generating incredible momentum,” Buchwald said. “This month’s campaign finance numbers are another sign of the great response we’ve been receiving. People are clearly responding to our message on how to create jobs and boost our downtowns, make government work for all of us, and protect the environment.”

Travalino said the reason Castelli's fundraising numbers have fallen short of Buchwald’s is that Castelli “raises money in small contributions from people who live in the district.”

Castelli, a former state trooper and former member of the Lewisboro Town Board, said he is undaunted by the disparity in the fundraising figures.

“We are not concerned with my opponent’s most recent filing, since I was outspent in both previous races and won each time,” he said.

Buchwald has been a member of the White Plains City Council since 2009. He is an attorney and has previously worked as an economic analyst in White Plains.

The 93rd Assembly District covers Bedford, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge and parts of White Plains.

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